Musk’s latest folly, threatens federal employees via email: an arrogant and unnecessary move

Elon Musk orders civil servants to justify their actions or resign. A controversial move that puts the stability of the government machine at risk

Elon Musk, in his usual provocative style, continues to leave a heavy imprint on the workings of the US government. With his latest move, announced via X, the former Twitter, Musk has issued an ultimatum to federal employees: ‘Say what you did or resign’. A move that seems to want to treat the American public administration like its own private company, where authoritarian decisions take over a system as complex and delicate as the public one.

In the message addressed to employees, Musk demands a detailed response within a few days, implying that failure to respond will be tantamount to dismissal from the job. The email, sent in agreement with Donald Trump, the current president of the United States, is only the latest in a series of aggressive actions aimed at redefining the entire public apparatus with criteria similar to those of the private sector.

The main problem, however, lies in the fact that Musk seems to ignore the fundamental dynamics of the public sector. Federal employees do not work in a vacuum, but are an integral part of a system that guarantees essential services to citizens. Such a drastic action risks paralysing key sectors of the country, which are already under pressure due to recent cuts and the forced reorganisation desired by the Trump administration.

The reactions were not long in coming. Several unions and government agencies have already advised their employees not to respond, at least for the time being, as Musk’s order does not follow any legal or union process. Labour law experts have expressed strong doubts about the legitimacy of such a request, pointing out that failure to follow procedures could expose the administration to lawsuits.

Musk, for his part, continues to defend his position, claiming that many government employees do not work as much as they should and insinuating that part of the salaries are collected from non-existent or deceased persons. A provocation that sounds more like a populist slogan than a real reform proposal.

In reality, Musk’s action is just another piece in a strategy based on pressure and fear. But running a government is not like running a start-up. The rules of democracy, the protection of workers and the complexity of public services require more nuanced and thoughtful solutions, not authoritarian impositions. The risk is that this move will create chaos rather than lead to concrete improvements.

Ultimately, Musk and Trump seem to want to accelerate a drastic and potentially destructive reorganisation, without considering the long-term consequences for the functioning of the country. Not only will their choices not solve the problems of the public system, but they could make things even worse by affecting the very sectors that need stability and competence to function.

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